Backhoe mounting



Nov. 30, 1965 J. 5. PlLCH 3,220,437

BACKHOE MOUNTING Filed May 2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JOHN 5. Pl LCl-i ATTOPNEY Nov. 30, 1965 J. s. PILCH 3,220,487

BACKHOE MOUNTING Filed May 2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JO H N S. PILC H A TTOP/VEX Nov. 30, 1965 J. s. PILCH BACKHOE MOUNTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2, 1963 United States Patent O 3,220,487 BACKI-IOE MOUNTING John S. Pilch, Ware Machine Works, Inc., P.O. Box 140, Ware, Mass. Filed May 2, 1963, Ser. No. 277,574 Claims. (Cl. 172274) This invention relates to tractor-mounted backhoes or the like, and has particular reference to new and improved means for connecting and detaching the backhoe or the like from the tractor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement for detachably connecting or detaching backhoes or the like to tractors.

Another object to to provide such an arrangement which facilitates such connection or disconnection with relatively little skill required by the operator, regardless of whether or not the tractor and backhoe are properly aligned.

Another object is to provide a connecting arrangement of the type set forth which eliminates looseness or play in the connection.

Another object is to provide a connecting arrangement of the type set forth wherein the backhoe is automatically locked in operative connection with the tractor.

Another object is to provide a device of the type set forth which facilitates the detachment of the implement from the vehicle.

Another object is to provide a connection having manual means for adjusting and tightening the connection to eliminate fore and aft movement in the connection, and fore and aft movement of the backhoe relative to the tractor frame.

Another object is to provide a connection having means for eliminating side movement in the connection.

Another object is to provide a locking means for a connection between a tractor and an implement that does not require the use of pins, and whereby the locking or tightening device can be tightened or adjusted manually with or without the use of a wrench.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred form of the invention has been given by way of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tractor and tractor-mounted backhoe embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view showing the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views generally similar to :FIG. 2, further illustrating the use of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view further illustrating the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 through 6.

Originally, tractor-mounted backhoes and the tractors to which they were connected, were relatively small so that the connection of the backhoe to the tractor was not difficult and it was a very simple matter for the operator to see the backhoe and the hitch that he was coupling onto, as the operator, from the seat, coud reach the coupling with his hand.

Both tractors and backhoes are continually growing larger and the connection of a large tractor to a large backhoe has become increasingly difficult, and the operator is at such a distance from the connection that he must maneuver the tractor into the connecting position practically blindly. This was further complicated by unevenness of terrain. Furthermore, the locking devices Patented Nov. 30, 1965 ice did not compensate for any wear or small manufacturing errors that may occur. In some cases, the difliculties in such connections was so great that the trenchers were left permanently connected to the tractor.

It is the object of the present invention to provide such a connecting arrangement whereby the tractor and backhoe may be quickly and easily connected with a minimum effort on the part of the operator and regardless of terrain, and the locking means employed is adapted to eliminate looseness or play and can be tightened or adjusted manually with or without the use of wrenches, and wherein all vertical movement in the locking device and/or backhoe in relation to the tractor frame is eliminated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, the device shown in FIG. 1, embodying the invention, includes a tractor designated generally at 10, having a frame 10a and having the operators seat 11 in cab 12 and a loader 13 mounted on the front of the tractor, and a backhoe or trencher detachably connected to the rear of the tractor.

The backhoe or trencher designated generally at 14 includes a support 15 on stabilizers 16, and to support 15 is pivotally connected boom 17 to which is pivotally connected dipper stick 18 carrying bucket 19. I

Each side of the tractor frame 10a has a connecting member 20 extending rearwardly therefrom. These connecting members each have a lower rearwardly projection.

21 with upwardly inclined cam surfaces 22 terminating in sockets 23, said cam surfaces 22 continuing below the center line of said sockets 23. Each member 20 is provided with a guide 24 to line up the connection and prevent vibration.

On the upper edge of each of the members 20 is pivotally connected at 25 a threaded looking or securing member 26 having nuts 27 thereon, and each having an.

opening 28 therein for insertion of pin or the like 29, which can be carried in a socket on the trencher support as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. Member 26 is retained in position by pin 26a, to align with fork 36.

Adjacent their upper ends, each of members 20 hasa rearwardly projecting portion 30 with downwardly inclined cam or guide surfaces 31.

Between members 20 is provided convexly curved guide.

member 32, as hereinafter described.

The forward or adjacent end of the backhoe is provided with cooperating or mutually coacting means.

proximately the same distance as members 20.

Each of supports or brackets 33 carries a lug or boss 34 adjacent the lower front end thereof adapted to ride,

on cam surfaces 22 to sockets 23 where they are retained in assembled position. Supports 33 each have camor wedge portions 35 adjacent their upper front edges adapted to engage cam :or wedge surfaces 31 and each of supports 33 has an upwardly projecting lug 36 forming sockets3-7 for receiving threaded members 26, whereby the supports 33 are locked in assembled relation with members 20.

It will be seen that vertically disposed convex guide member 32 serves as a horizontal self-aligning guide such as to cause the other of said members to automatically enter proper horizontal connecting relations upon contact of said members and should the tractor not engage the,

This comprises a pair of forwardly extending spaced supports or brackets 33 on support 15, and spaced apart 'ap-' It will be seen from the foregoing, that with the present arrangement the tractor and trencher can be coupled with little skill required on the part of the tractor operator, as the connecting members will be automatically directed into proper relation to form the operable connection therebetween. This automatic locking comprises, as the implement is being engaged by the tractor, the nut 27, or collar 27 should a nut not be used, sliding upwardly on the angular face of lug 36 and falling into place, automatically locking the implement onto the tractor frame. Should members 26 be rotatably pivoted around 25 into a vertical or beyond vertical position, as is shown in FIG. 4, however, the implement will not be automatically locked in place. However, through such positioning of said members 26, manual locking may be accomplished merely by placing said members 26 in vertical or beyond vertical position and then, after the implement has been positioned properly in relation to the tractor, dropping said members manually into locking position.

Also, with the threaded connectors, adjustment is possible to take up for any looseness or play in the connection. As the threaded connection is tightened or adjusted, cam or wedge portions 35 are drawn against angular portions 31, forcing supports 33 in at least two definite directions, that is, horizontally against angular portions 31 and vertically downwardly, forcing lug 34 into sockets 23.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided new and improved means for obtaining all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a vehicle member, an implement member, said members being adapted to be detachably connected and means for detachably connecting said members, said means including; vertical, coacting, self-aligning means and horizontal, coacting, self-aligning means on said members and adapted to direct said connecting means into operative relation, said horizontal self-aligning means including a convexly curved guide member positioned upon one of said members such as to cause the other of said members to automatically enter proper horizontal connecting relation upon contact of said members, and means for locking said means in said operative relation to retain said members in operative relation.

2. In a device of the character described, a vehicle member, an implement member, said members being adapted to be detachably connected and means for detachably connecting said members, said means including; vertical, coacting, self-aligning means and horizontal, coacting, self-aligning means on said members and adapted to direct said connecting means into operative relation, said horizontal self-aligning means including a convexly curved guide member positioned upon one of said members such as to cause the other of said members to automatically enter proper horizontal connecting relation upon contact of said members and retaining means adjacent the sides of said convexly curved guide member for retaining said members in proper horizontal connecting relation after said relation has been attained by said contact of said members, and means for locking said means in said operative relation to retain said members in operative relation, said locking means allowing the taking up for Wear or looseness that may occur between said members.

3. In a device of the character described, a vehicle member, an implement member, said members being adapted to be detachably connected and means for facilitating the connection of said members and for detachably connecting said members, said means including; cooperative vertical self-aligning means on said members, cooperative horizontal self-aligning means on said members, said cooperative vertical self-aligning means including angularly inclined guides on one of said members for automatically guiding the other of said members into vertical connecting position upon contact of said members and means on said member having said angularly inclined guides adjacent said guides for maintaining said members in vertical connecting position, said cooperative horizontal self-aligning means including a convexly curved guide member positioned upon one of said members such as to cause the other of said members to automatically enter proper horizontal connecting position upon contact of said members, and means for locking said members in operative relation and means for preventing horizontal vibration between said members.

4. In a device of the character described, a vehicle member, an implement member, said members being adapted to be detachably connected and means for facilitating the connection of said members and for detachably connecting said members, said means including; cooperative vertical self-aligning means on said members, cooperative horizontal self-aligning means on said members, and means for locking said members in operative relation, said horizontal self-aligning means comprising curved, vertically extending guide means on one of said members such as to cause the other of said members to automatically enter proper horizontal connecting relations upon contact of said members, said vertical, self-aligning means including forwardly extending cam means on one of said members and means on the other of said members adapted to engage said cam means and be directed thereby into operative position and guide means for lining up the connection.

5. In a device of the character described, a vehicle member, an implement member, said members being adapted to be detachably connected and means for detachably connecting said members, said means including; horizontal, coacting, self-aligning means on said members and adapted to direct said connecting means into operative realtion, said horizontal, coacting, self-aligning means including a convexly curved guide member upon one of said members such as to cause the other of said members to automatically enter proper horizontal connecting position upon physical contact of said vehicle and implement members and means for retaining said members in said connecting position after such has been attained and means for locking said means in said operative relation to retain said members in operative relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,464,740 8/1923 Benjomin et a1. 172275 X 2,636,568 4/1953 Rutishauer 172-272. X 2,710,569 6/1955 Altgelt 172272 X 2,752,836 7/1956 Pilch 214138 X 2,784,656 3/1957 Sheppard 172-274 2,793,880 5/1957 Oehler et a1 172272 X 2,834,277 5/1958 Tanke 17227S X 2,880,894 4/1959 Walker 214--138 2,883,776 4/1959 Orscheln 172-273 X 2,959,233 11/1960 Scarlett et al 172-274 3,003,651 10/1961 Holopainen 214-138 3,034,587 5/1962 Dorkins et a1. 172-274 3,081,891 3/1963 Przybylski 214-138 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

2. IN A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A VEHICLE MEMBER, AN IMPLEMENT MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO BE DETACHABLY CONNECTED AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID MEMBERS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING; VERTICAL, COACTING, SELF-ALIGNING MEANS AND HORIZONTAL, COACTING, SELF-ALIGNING MEANS ON SAID MEMBERS AND ADAPTED TO DIRECT SAID CONNECTING MEANS INTO OPERATIVE RELATION, SAID HORIZONTAL SELF-ALIGNING MEANS INCLUDING A CONVEXLY CURVED GUIDE MEMBER POSITIONED UPON ONE OF SAID MEM- 